JP3661267B2 - Endoscope flexible tube - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a flexible tube used as a universal cord or the like that is detachably connected to a flexible portion of an insertion portion or a light source device in an endoscope used for medical use or industrial use.
[0002]
[Prior art]
An endoscope is generally configured as shown in FIG. In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a main body operation unit. The main body operation unit 1 is provided with an insertion unit 2 inserted into a body cavity or the like, and is attached to and detached from a light source device (not shown). The universal cord 3 that can be connected is drawn out. The insertion portion 2 is a flexible portion 2a that is bent in an arbitrary direction along the insertion path from the base end side. An angle part 2b is connected to the flexible part 2a, and a tip part main body 2c provided with an illumination window, an observation window, etc. is connected to the angle part 2b, and the angle part 2b is curved vertically or vertically and horizontally. It can be operated, whereby the distal end body 2c is directed in an arbitrary direction, and an observation visual field or the like in a desired direction can be obtained.
[0003]
In the insertion portion 2, the distal end portion main body 2c is formed of a hard member, and the angle portion 2b has a bendable ring structure. The flexible part 2a has a flexible tube structure, and the universal cord 3 also has a flexible tube structure. The flexible portion 2a and the universal cord 3 have light guides, signal cables, and other insertion members inserted therein, and therefore the shape retention must be good. The flexible part 2a needs to bend without resistance as much as possible along an insertion path such as a body cavity. On the other hand, the universal cord 3 follows the movement of the main body operation unit 1 so as not to obstruct the operation when an operator or the like holds the main body operation unit 1 and operates the endoscope. It must bend in the direction of
[0004]
The flexible part 2a and the universal cord 3 are generally formed in different structures because the flexible part 2a is inserted into a body cavity. However, since the flexible portion 2a and the universal cord 3 have at least the above structural functions, that is, shape retention and flexibility in the bending direction, the flexible tube structure is substantially the same. It is also possible to do.
[0005]
Various types of flexible tube structures have been developed. Among them, one that is widely used as the flexible portion 2a is that a thin metal plate piece is spirally wound with a predetermined gap therebetween. It is often composed of a double spiral tube that is rotated, and an inner spiral tube and an outer spiral tube are wound in opposite directions. On the other hand, as the universal cord 3, the one shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 is mainly used.
[0006]
As is apparent from these figures, a corrugated plate 10 made of an elastic metal plate and formed with a convex portion and a concave portion in the longitudinal direction is used, and this is spirally wound to A flexible tube main body 11 having an insertion passage is formed. Here, the corrugated plate 10 has a convex plane 10P and a concave plane 10R connected to each other, and a rising surface 10a toward the convex plane 10P and a falling surface 10b toward the concave plane 10R are formed on both sides. In addition, there is a continuous surface 10c that transitions from the convex plane 10P to the concave plane 10R, all of which are in a vertical state or inclined at a predetermined angle with respect to the horizontal plane.
[0007]
In order to form the flexible tube main body 11, as shown in FIG. 8, the rising surface 10a of the convex flat surface 10P and the falling surface 10b of the concave flat surface 10R are engaged with each other in a close spiral manner. Is done. The corrugated shape of the corrugated plate 10 is not limited to a right angle, but may be formed with an inclined surface having a predetermined angle, or the entire surface of the corrugation 10 may be a curved surface.
[0008]
The outer skin layer 12 is attached to the outer surface of the flexible tube body 11 formed as described above. Here, since the flexible tube main body 11 has a concavo-convex shape, a net is attached to the flexible tube main body 11 in order to prevent the outer surface from being uneven when configured as the soft portion 2a. The outer skin layer 12 is provided on the net. On the other hand, when it is configured as the universal cord 3, there is no need to intervene a net or the like because it does not cause any special trouble even if the outer surface is uneven.
[0009]
Here, the flexible tube main body 11 has a rising surface 10a, a falling surface 10b, and a connecting surface 10c of the convex flat surface 10P and the concave flat surface 10R orthogonal to the axis of the flexible tube main body 11 or with respect to the orthogonal direction. Since the surface has a predetermined angle, the strength in the pressing direction is remarkably improved, and the shape retaining property, that is, the crush resistance is extremely good. Further, a predetermined space exists between the convex plane 10P and the concave plane 10R, the rising surface 10a is inclined in the space in the concave portion, and the falling surface 10b is inclined in the space in the convex portion. Since it can be inclined, the flexibility in the bending direction is good.
[0010]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
By the way, if the flexible tube body has a corrugated shape, it has three rising and falling surfaces with respect to two substantially horizontal surfaces, so that it may be compared with, for example, a double spiral tube. If the thickness is the same, the former is heavier per unit length. The surgeon or the like grasps the main body operation part with one hand and operates the endoscope, but whether it is a flexible part in the insertion part or a universal cord, both are connected to the main body operation part, The increase in weight of the flexible tube main body constituting them places a great burden on the operator.
[0011]
In addition, the flexible tube body has good shape retention, is flexible in the bending direction, and has excellent strength in the axial compression and tension directions. However, since it consists of a single layer of helical tube, it will deform considerably when a force is applied to the flexible tube body in the twisting direction. That is, when a twisting force is applied in the direction of unwinding the spiral, the diameter of the flexible tube body increases, and when a twisting force in the direction of winding the spiral is applied, the diameter decreases. As a result, the outer skin layer may be damaged or the internal insertion member may be pressed. In this respect, it cannot be denied that the strength is inferior to that of the double helical tube whose winding is reversed. The flexible tube body maintains a spiral shape by the engagement between the rising surface and the falling surface of the corrugated plate. If the dimensions of the rising surface and the falling surface are short, the flexible tube body is The possibility of disengagement of both sides when twisted cannot be denied.
[0012]
The present invention has been made in view of the above points. The object of the present invention is to reduce the weight of the flexible tube main body, and even if an external force is applied in the twisting direction, the flexible tube main body is extremely It is to hold it so that it does not swell or shrink.
[0013]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above-described object, the present invention provides a corrugated plate in which a convex portion and a concave portion are formed in a long metal plate piece in a longitudinal direction, a rising surface to the convex portion and a concave portion. An endoscope having a hollow flexible tube main body wound in a close spiral manner so as to engage with a falling surface from the endoscope, and an insertion member inserted through the flexible tube main body. An opening that is aligned with the rising surface and the falling surface of the flexible tube main body and the connecting surface between the convex portion and the concave portion so as to be aligned in the axial direction of the flexible tube main body. Are provided at one place or a plurality of positions at predetermined angles in the circumferential direction, wires are inserted through these openings in the axial direction, the wires are slackened, and both ends thereof are connected to both ends of the flexible tube. It is characterized by having a fixed configuration.
[0014]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
The flexible tube main body 20 basically has no particular difference from that of the configuration shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. That is, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the corrugated plate 21 is formed into a waveform in which the convex plane 21P and the concave plane 21R are connected, and the rising surface 21a of the convex plane 21P and the falling of the concave plane 21R are formed. The flexible tube main body 20 is formed by engaging the surface 21b and winding it in a close spiral. Here, the convex flat surface 21P and the concave flat surface 21R are substantially horizontal surfaces, that is, the surface in the axial direction of the flexible tube body 20, the rising surface 21a and the falling surface 21b, the convex flat surface 21P and the concave flat surface 21R. The continuous surface 21c is substantially perpendicular to the axis of the flexible tube body 20, or is a surface that intersects the axis with a predetermined angle.
[0015]
A predetermined width exists in the radial direction between the convex plane 21P and the concave plane 21R, and the rising surface 21a, the falling surface 21b, and the connecting surface 21c face the position corresponding to this width. Each of these surfaces is for imparting sufficient strength and good shape retention even when a force is applied to the flexible tube main body 20 in the direction orthogonal to the axis and in the axial direction. However, in order to exhibit the functions described above, these surfaces do not have to be provided over the entire circumference. Even if a portion is missing in the circumferential direction, the strength of the flexible tube body 20 in the direction perpendicular to the axis and in the axial direction does not decrease so much, and the flexibility in the bending direction is hardly affected. Absent.
[0016]
Therefore, the rising surface 21a, the falling surface 21b, and the connecting surface 21c are formed with an opening 22 formed of an eyebrow-shaped long hole by a predetermined angle. Here, the opening 22 is a long hole in the circumferential direction, but the opening area is made as large as possible as long as the strength is maintained. Thereby, the flexible tube main body 20 can be reduced. The shape of the opening 22 is preferably an eyebrow shape from the viewpoint of maintaining strength, but the rising surface 21a and the falling surface 21b can also be formed as notched openings to the ends.
[0017]
The opening 22 penetrates the entire length in the axial direction of the flexible tube body 20, and is provided at a plurality of locations in the circumferential direction, for example, 3 locations as shown in FIG. Then, as is apparent from FIG. 4, the connecting wires 23 are inserted into the openings 22 provided in three places in the circumferential direction. Both ends of the connecting wire 23 are fixed. This fixing can be done in various ways. In FIG. 1, the connecting wire 23 is fixed by pouring solder 25 into the concave flat surface 21 </ b> R in the end portion of the flexible tube main body 20, that is, the portion where the connecting ring 24 for connecting to another member is fitted. The configuration is shown. Here, when the connecting wire 23 is formed by twisting a thin metal wire, if the solder 25 is poured in a state where the ends of the connecting wire 23 are separated in the concave plane 21R, the connecting wire 23 23 can be fixed extremely firmly. In addition, if a through hole 24a is provided at a position of the connection ring 24 facing the upper portion of the concave flat surface 21R and the solder 25 is poured from the through hole 24a, the connection wire 23 is fixed and the flexible tube main body 20 is fixed. The connection ring 24 can be fixed simultaneously. Furthermore, the outer skin layer 26 is covered on the flexible tube main body 20 formed in this way.
[0018]
By configuring as described above, the opening 22 is provided in the rising surface 21a, the falling surface 21b, and the connecting surface 21c, and the weight per unit length is reduced by the amount of missing material. Therefore, when this flexible tube main body 20 is used as a structure of a flexible portion in a universal cord or an insertion portion, the weight of the flexible tube main body 20 is reduced, and the burden on the operator when holding the main body operation portion and performing an operation is reduced. It is reduced.
[0019]
In addition, although the opening 22 is provided, there is a portion perpendicular to the axis of the flexible tube main body 20 or a predetermined angle between the openings 22 and 22 in the circumferential direction. The strength in the direction of the axis and the direction perpendicular to the axis, that is, the shape retention, is good, and the flexibility in the bending direction is also excellent.
[0020]
Furthermore, since the connecting wire 23 passes through the opening 22 and both ends thereof are fixed, even if a torsional force is applied to the flexible tube main body 20, resistance is generated. That is, when a torsional force is applied to the flexible tube main body 20, the connecting wire 23 that is in a straight state is displaced spirally with respect to the flexible tube main body 20. Since both ends of the connecting wire 23 are fixed, the more the twisting force is applied to the flexible tube body 20, the more tension is applied to the connecting wire 23, and the tension of the connecting wire 23 is the resistance against the twisting of the flexible tube body 20. Thus, twisting of a predetermined amount or more is prevented. Here, when the tension is applied to the connecting wire 23 even if the flexible tube main body 20 is in a straight line state, the flexible tube main body 20 does not twist at all, and greatly affects the flexibility in the bending direction. . Accordingly, the connecting wire 23 is somewhat slack in the straight state of the flexible tube body 20. However, if the amount of looseness is too large, the twist of the flexible tube main body 20 cannot be sufficiently regulated. Therefore, an appropriate slack may be given in relation to the length of the flexible tube main body 20. Thus, since the twist of the flexible tube main body 20 can be controlled by the connecting wire 23, the height of the flexible tube main body 20 can be adjusted by adjusting the amount of twist possible according to the height dimension of the rising surface 21 a and the falling surface 21 b. Even if the dimensions are small, it is possible to reliably prevent twisting to such an extent that the engaged state is released. In addition, not only the tension of the connecting wire but also the length of the long hole in the longitudinal direction can be set appropriately to restrict the twist angle.
[0021]
If a bending force or a force in the direction of compression or extension acts in a state where a torsional force is applied to the flexible tube main body 20, the connecting wire 23 comes into sliding contact with the edge of the opening 22. There is a possibility that a situation of disconnection of the connecting wire 23 may occur. In order to prevent this, a configuration is adopted in which a flat tube 27 made of a slippery soft resin or the like is inserted into each opening 22 aligned in the axial direction, and the flat tube 27 is adhered to each opening 22. Just do it. Accordingly, since the connecting wire 23 moves in the flat tube 27, the movement thereof is smooth, and the connecting wire 23 does not slide directly with the edge portion of the opening 22, so that the connecting wire 23 is protected and has a long life. Is planned.
[0022]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, as described above, by providing an opening in the flexible tube main body, the weight of the flexible tube main body can be reduced, and the connecting wires to which both ends are fixed are sequentially arranged. By inserting it into the opening, even if a force is applied to the flexible tube main body in the twisting direction, the torsion of the flexible tube main body can be regulated so that it does not bulge or shrink excessively. There is an effect that the engagement with the falling surface is not disengaged.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a flexible tube main body showing an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an external view of a corrugated plate constituting a flexible tube main body.
3 is a cross-sectional view of FIG.
FIG. 4 is an external view of a main part of a flexible tube main body.
FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of a main part configuration of a flexible tube main body showing another embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a schematic configuration diagram of an endoscope.
FIG. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view of a flexible tube main body according to the prior art.
8 is an external view of a corrugated plate constituting the flexible tube main body of FIG. 7. FIG.
[Explanation of symbols]
20 Flexible tube body 21 Metal plate body 21a Rising surface 21b Falling surface 21c Consecutive surface 21P Convex plane 21R Concave plane 22 Opening 23 Connecting wire 24 Connecting ring 25 Solder 27 Tube

Claims (2)

A corrugated plate formed with a convex portion and a concave portion in the longitudinal direction on a long metal plate piece is engaged with the rising surface to the convex portion and the falling surface from the concave portion. In a flexible tube of an endoscope in which a hollow flexible tube main body is formed by winding in a tightly wound spiral shape, and an insertion member is inserted into the flexible tube main body,
One opening or a circumferential direction is arranged on the rising surface and the falling surface of the flexible tube main body and the continuous surface between the convex portion and the concave portion so as to line up in the axial direction of the flexible tube main body. provided a plurality of places at every predetermined angle in,
Insert wires in these openings in the axial direction ,
An endoscope flexible tube characterized in that the wire is slackened and both ends thereof are fixed to both ends of the flexible tube.   The flexible tube for an endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the wire is inserted into a tube made of an elastic member that is inserted through the opening.

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